Feeding device for cigarette-packaging machines



Nov. 1, 1927. 1,647,265

w. B. BRONANDER FEEDING DEVICE FOR CIGARETTE PACKAGING MACHINES Filed April '7, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 1, I927.

W. B. BRONANDER FEEDING DEVICE FOR CIGARETTE PACKAGING MACHINES Filed April '7, L925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 u n n I I I ATTORNEY Nov. 1, 1927. 1,647,265

W. B. BRONANDER FEEDING DEVICE FOR CIGARETTE PACKAGING MACHINES Filed April '7, L925 SSheets-Sheet 5 Has A H 6" .37 I i 37 INVENTOR Patented Nov. Ll 9 1927.

. UNITE. STATES I PATENT oFricE.

WILHELE B. BRONANDER, OF MONTCLAIB, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNDB T AMERICAN MACHINE & FOUNDRY COMPANY, ACORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.-

rnnnme DEVICE r03. CIGARETTE-PACKAGING monn tns.

Application filed April 7, 1926. Serial no.1o0,2s1.

This invention relates to an improvement in a feed device for cigarette packaging machines, especially designed and adapted to feed oval cigarettes in groups into the-re ceptacles of a conveyor, the cigarettes of each layer being delivered in lapped posi:

tion readyto be made into a'package or placed in a box.

lln packaging ova-l cigarettes, the cigam rettes are arranged in rows the cigarettes of each row being inclined in the same direction thongh the cigarettes in different 'rows are usually inclined in divergent directions. The main object of the present in- 5 vention is the production of a feeding device which will properly arrange the cigarettes in accordance with the general practice in packaging oval cigarettes. A further object of the invention is the production of improved mechanisms forming various parts of the feeding device. A further object is the production of a device of the general character indicated, having extremely high capacity in order to deliver the-groups of cigarettes to packaging machines of extremely high capacity. With these and other objects not specifically mentioned in view, the invention consists in' certain combinations and constructions which will be hereinafter fully described and then specifically set forth in the claims hereunto appended. In the accompanying drawings in which like characters indicate the same or like parts, Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the improved feeding device, certain parts being broken away, and showing the means employed for arranging the cigarettes in groups; Fig. 2 is at plan View of the structure shown in Fig. 1, and showing the arrangement of the drives for the various movable parts; Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view, showing the cigarette compacting and delivering means; Figs. '4 and 5 are respectively plan and front elevations of the cigarette compact ng and delivering means; and Figs. 6. to 15 are diagrams showing the successive steps in the operation of the cigarette compacting and delivering'means.

In carrying the invention into effect. there rettes from 'said supporting means, means is provided means for supporting a supply whereby the forwarded cigarettes are arranged 1 n rearwardly-inclined relationship, means for separating groups of cigarettes so arranged, means for compacting the groups v of arranged cigarettes, and means for transporting the compacted groups and assembling them with other. similarly arranged groups. In the best cgnstructions contemplated, the means for supporting a-supply' of cigarettes comprises means for support ing a primary supply and a secondary supply, and the forwarding means always receives cigarettes from the primary supply, but only from the secondary supply when.

vacancies occur in the line of cigarettes forcigarettes from the line includes operative connections and a plunger pushing said groups out of the forwarding path; the

-means for compacting said groups includes operatlve connectlons and dual compacting devices so arranged that one is. being charged while the other is being dis harged,

in order to attain high output; and a plurality of means are. employed whereby groups of cigarettes are produced and delivered to transporting means including operative connections and a conveyor havinga step by step movement past, and receiving groups from, said group producing means. All of the above means and devices may be widely varied in construction within the scope of the claims .for the specific structure selected to illustrate the invention is but one of many possible concrete embodiments of the same. The invention therefore is not to be restricted to the precise details of the structure shown and described.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2. the hopper 20, whose front wall 21 is preferablymade ofsome transparent material such as glass or celluloid, so that the operator can watch the cigarettes and remedy any jamming or other trouble by opening the hinged flap 21, is attached to the frame-work 22 of the the partitioned turrets 25 which, in a step by vided step motion,turn in directions from the center of the hopper towardthe ends. The pockets of the turr'et'are of a width permitting tilting but not-rotation of the cigarettes therein. i

Above each turret, in a position slightly in advance of the vertical centerline of the wheel, and with its circumference in close proximity to the tops o'f the projecting partitions 26, is placed a small drum 27 extending over the entire inside width of the hopper space and having a portion of its periphery cut away orflattened so as to form a wedge-shaped pocket with the periphery of the turret 25. The drums 27 are revolved in/the same direction as'thecorresponding .tu rrets 25- sothat their adjoining peripher1es move in opposite directions, the flat surfaces of the drums 27 pushing back any cigarettes in excess ofthose in the line of turret pockets. i p p I Having pamed beyond the drum 27, the pockets of the turret 25 pass along the auzrlliary feedcham'ber 28 formed below the s1de guides 23 by the partitions 29, and supportmg a secondary supply of cigarettes. This chamber is supplied with cigarettes from the front, by opening the flap 21, in order that a cigarette may drop inany pocketof the turret 25 which may not formerly have received a charge, or whose charge may have been knocked out by. the action of the drum 27. Y

The cigarettes in the pockets of the turret 25 are thereupon subjected to the action of drums 30 placed -hove the wheels 25 some distance beyond the vertical center line and revolving in the same direction as the re spective drums 27.' The drums 30 are pro with circumferentially pro ecting I brushes which engage the cigarettes lying in the pockets of the turret 25 and tilt their exposed parts rearwardly, thus causing them to assume their lapping positions. In this position they are held, as the turret continues to turn, by the guards 31 surrounding the portion of the, turrets 25 between the emerging points at the drum 30 and the discharging points at the bottom of the turrets, the guards 31 being supported by brackets 32 from the hopper frame and being so dimensioned that the desired number of cigarettes required for one row of the package to be formed will drop slightly upon, the curved receiving table 33 attached to the frame at each step of the turret 25.

From the receiving table 33, the! cigarettes are pushed by a plunger 34 into one of the chambers of the two-chambered compactor 35 which has a reciprocative movement so that its two chambers can be charged alternately from the receiving table 33. In each of the two charging positions of. the compactor, thetchamberpreviously charged and now holding the clgarettes in compacted condition is opposite one of the receptacles of'the endless conveyor 36, so that one of the two end-plungers 37 which move simultaneously with the center plunger 34 "previously 'referredto, pushes the compacted layer of. cigarettes into a conveyor receptacle. v

1 The turrets 25 are driven from the main shaft 38 by means of an eccentric 39 connected, by the rod 40, with the pawl 41 supported on the arm 42 fulcrumed on the shaft43; the latter carrying the gear 45 meshing with the gear 46 bn the shaft 47 of the left-hand turret 25. A; sprocket 48 on the shaft 43. through the chain 49, drives the sprocket 50 on the shaft 51 of the righthand turret 25. The shaft 38, by means of the chain 52, drives the shaft 53 which is lUU The plungers 34 and 37, which are connected together .by the rods 64 to which they are attached by links 65, are, operated by levers 66 aflixed to the shaft 67 which is rockedback and forth by the lever 68 fulcrumed in the bracket 69 and actuated by the cam 70 mounted on the main gshafft 38, the

cam-end of the lever 68 carrying the roller 71, and the free end being connected by the link 72 to the crank 73 attached to the rocking shaft 67.

The reciprocating motion, of the compressors 35 is derived from the cam-operated rod 74 supported on the shaft'38, one end of the rod 74 being provided with a slot through which passes the shaft 38. The cam 75, (Figs. 3 to 5) drivenby the chain 76 from the main shaft 38, actuates, through the roller 77, the lever 78 supported onthefulcrum 79 carried by the machine-base 22,

the upper end of the lever 78 being pivoted to the rod 74.

The mechanism of the cigarette transfer from the receiving tables 33 to the compactors 35, and from the latterto the conveyor 36,.is shown separately in Flgs. 3 to 5; and

diagrams illustrating the successive stages of the charge transfer are shown in Figs. 6

to 15. v

The charge receiving tables 33, located below the center of each turret 25, are fixedly member 81. Springs 84, fastened to guides 88 and actuating-rod 74'serve to keep the roller 77 of the operating lever 78 in contact with the cam 75. The tworeceiving chambers of each compactor are'formed by movable side walls 85 pivoted near the/delivery end of the compactor between its horizontal bottom 86 and its inclined top 87. Below the bottom wall 86, the two outside pivots of each compactor carry bell-cranks 88. and the two inside pivotscarry simple levers 89, the free ends of the levers 89 being joined by slots and pins 90 with themweirdly-promoting arms of the bell-cranks 88. Springs 91, attached to the pins 90 and the compactor-base 86, keep the side walls 85 spread open when the bell-crank levers 88 are free to move. At both ends of the compactor-stroke, however, the outwardly projecting arms of the bell-cranks 88 engage stops 92 attached to the cross-member 81, thus moving the bell-cranks inward and closing the side-walls 85, thereby compact-- ing the row of cigarettes contained in the respective chambers to the proper width prior to its being transferred into the conveyor rec eptaclewhich itself is made of the width required for packaging the cigarettes.

The center plunger 3%, which consists of a number of horizontal, rods 93 carrying at their forward ends av small vertical strip 94: provided with slots so as to enable it to pass through the pockets of the turret 25, is supported by the guide 95 attached to the rear member 80 of the hopper frame. The end plungers 37 are rectangular strips of wood or other light material having a cross section identical with the dimensions of one row of cigarettes, and are supported by guides 96 fastened to the rear member 80'.

The conveyor receptacles 97. while being charged, are kept in alignment by the supporting strip 98 afixed between the conveyor chains 56 by means of brackets 99 to the cross member 81 of the hopper frame, the receptacles 97 for this purpose being provided with cross bars 100 which rest and slide on the strip 98 during the chargingperiod.

The operation or the charge transferring device as follows: en the turret has made a half turn afterdthemachine has beenstarted, the first charge lis deposited upon the receiving table 33, as shown in Fig. 6.

The compactor at this time has moved into its forward position so that its rear chamber registers with the receiving table.- At the next step of the machine, the plungers move forward, thereby pushing charge 1- into the rear pocket of the compactor which, inthe forward position of the comparator, has its side walls 85 open, Fig. '2'. Next, the plungers are drawn back, the compactor' moves to the rear, the conveyor advances, and the turret turns, depositing a second charge ll uponthe receiving table, Fig. 8. In moving to the rear end of its stroke, the compactorengages with its rear stop 92 which closes the side walls 85 of the rear pocket and compacts charge it. While compactor and conveyor remain stationary, the plungers nextmove forward, thereby transferring the compacted charge it to the conveyor and the new charge H to the compactor, Fig. 9, the front chamber of the latter being opposite the receiving table with its side walls spread open. As, after. retreat of the'plungers, the Compactor now moves forward, Fig. 10, charge H is compacted by the closing of the side walls on striking the forward. stop. At the same time, charge 1H isdeposited on the receiving table and charge I is moved forward. The plungers then come forward again, Fig. 11, transferring charge H to the conveyor and charge HI to the compactor.

Next, the plungers retreat, the compactor moves back, compacting charge ill, the conveyor advances, and the turret delivers charge IV, Fig. 12. When the plungers next move back, and compactor and conveyor move forward, charge IV is compacted and charge V delivered, Fig. 14. The plungers then move forward again, transferring charge 1V to the conveyor and charge V to the compactor, Fig. 15. The conveyor now carries four charges in the -order H, I, IV, lll. subsequent charges .be-

ing delivered in the same order.

The charges thus far compacted consist of one layer of cigarettes only. But, as the conveyor passes the second turret, the same process of delivery is repeated so that then each conveyor receptacle has two charges, or two rows of cigarettes, whichjn the present case constitutes the complete contents of one package. if the package is to contain three rows of,cigarettes, the hopper is associated with threeturrets, and three compactors are used, so that the charging process above described is repeated three times to, fully charge the conveyor receptacle "for subsequent packaging. o What is claimed is:

l. The combination with a hopper for supporting a supply of cigarettes, of means for forwarding cigarettes from said supporting means, and means whereby the forwarded cigarettes are arranged in rearwardly-inclined relationship.- 1

2. The combination with a hopper for supporting a supplyof cigarettes, of means for forwarding cigarettes from said Supporting means, means whereby the forwarded cigawardly-inclined relationship,

"ratinggroups of cigarettes so arranged,

forwarded cigarettes are rettes are arranged in rearwardly-inclined relationship, and means for separating groups of cigarettes so arranged.

3. The combination with means for supporting a supply of cigarettes, of means for forwarding cigarettes from said su porting means, means whereby the forwar ed .cigarettes are arranged in rearwardly-inclined relationship, means for separating groups of cigarettes so arranged, and meansfor compacting the groups of arranged; cigarettes. 4. The combination with means for sup- .porting a supply of cigarettes, of means for forwarding cigarettes from said supporting means, means wherebythe forwarded cigarettes are arranged in rearwardly-inclined relationship, means for separating groups of cigarettes soar-ranged, means for compacting the cups of arranged cigarettes, and means ortransporting the compacted groups.

' assembling them with other similar groups.

6. The combination with means for forwarding cigarettes, of means whereby the forwarded cigarettes are arranged in rearwardly-inclind relationship, means for separating groups of cigarettes so arranged. means for compacting the groups of ing the compacted groups.

7. The combination with means for forwarding cigarettes, of means whereby the forwarded cigarettes arearranged' in rearmeans for sepa means for compacting the groups of arranged cigarettes.

' 8. The combination with means for forwarding cigarettes, of means* .whereby the tilted in said forwarding means into rearwardly-inclined relationship, and means for separating groups of cigarettes so arranged.

9. The combination with means for forwarding cigarettes, of means whereby the forwarded cigarettes are tilted in said forwarding means into rearwardly-inclmed \relationship.

10. The combination with means for sup: porting a primary supply of cigarettes and a" secondary suppl ofc1garettes,.of means for forwarding cigarettes always received arpl ranged cigarettes, and means for transport-T and from said primary supply but only from said secondary supply when vacancies occur in the line, and means whereby the forwarded cigarettes are arranged in rearwa'trdly-inclined relationship. 1 r

11. The combination with a hopper supportinga primary supply and a secondary supply of cigarettes, of means for forward ing cigarettes always received from said primary supply but only from said secondary supply when vacanciesoccur in the line, and

means whereby the forwarded cigarettes are arranged .in rearwardly inclined. relationshi 1%. The combination with a hopper supporting a primary supply and a secondar supply of cigarettes, of means for forwar ing cigarettes always received from said primary supply but only from said secondary supply when. vacancies occur inthe line, and means for keeping said primary and seeondary supplies separate, and means whereby the forwarded cigarettes are arranged in rearwardly-inclined relationship.

13. The combination with a hopper supporting aiprimary supply and a secondary supply of cigarettes, of means for forward in cigarettes always received from said primary supply but only from said secondary supply when vacancies occur in said line, anda rotating device for restraining cigarettes out of the :line' which tend to pass from said primary supply to said secondary supply, and means whereby the forwarded cigarettesare arranged in rearwardly-inclined relationship. 14. The combination with a hopper supporting a primary supply and a secondary supply of cigarettes, of means underrun'ning said primary supply and said secondary supfor forwarding cigarettes always 'received by gravity from said primary supply but only from said secondary supply by. gravity when vacancies occur in saidline, and means whereby the forwarded cigarettes are arranged in rearwardly-inclined relationship. 15. The combination with means for supporting a supply of cigarettes, of means for forwarding cigarettes from said supporting means including operative connections, a

traveling member having a series of pockets each of which is of a width permitting tilt ing but not rotation of acigarette therein, and means whereby the forwarded cigaci arettes are arranged in rearwardly-inclined relationship.

1'2. The combination with means for supporting a supply of cigarettes, of means underrunning said supporting means and receiving cigarettes therefrom by gravity and forwarding said cigarettes and including operative connections, a rotating turret having a series of projecting partitions forming a series of peripheral pockets each of which'is of a width permitting tilting but not rotation of a cigarette therein, and means whereli the forwarded cigarettes are arranged in rearwardly-inclined relationship.

18. The combination with means for forwardin cigarettes, of means whereby the forwarded cigarettes are arranged in rearwardly-inclined relationship including means adjacent the path of the cigarettes and rearwardly tilting their exposed parts.

19. The combination with means for forwarding cigarettes, of means whereby the forwarded cigarettes are arranged rearwardly-inclined relationship including means having a substantially continuous member traveling in a direction opposite to that in which the cigarettes move and adjacent their path and rearwardly tilting their exposed parts.

20. The combination with means for forwardin cigarettes, of means whereby the forwar ed cigarettes I are arranged in rearwardly inclined relationship including operative connections, and a rotating brush a jacent the path of the cigarettes and rear- Wardly tilting their exposed parts.

21. The combination with means for forwarding cigarettes arranged in rearwardly inclined relationship, of means for separating groups of forwarded cigarettes so arranged 1nclud1ng operative connections,

and a plunger pushing said groups out of the-forwarding path.

22. The combination with means for forwarding cigarettes arranged in rearwardly inclined relationship, of means for separating groups of cigarettes so arranged including a table coacting with said forwarding means, and a cam-actuated plunger pushing said groups transversely from said table and the forwarding path.

' 23. The combination with means for separating groups of cigarettes from a line, of means for compacting said groups including operative connections, and dual compacting devices so arranged that one is being charged while the other isbeing discharged.

24. The combination with means for separating groups of cigarettes from a line, of means for compacting said groups including operative connections, and two compacting devicesmovable from group receiving position to group discharging position.

25. The combination with means for separating groupsof cigarettes from a line, of means for compacting said groups including operative connections, and two compacting devices reciprocating between a common group receiving position and two separated group discharging positions.

26. The combination with a plurality of means whereby groups of cigarettes are produced in which the cigarettes are arranged in divergent inclined relationship in the several means, and transporting means including operative connections, and a conveyor having a step by step movement past and receiving groups from said group producing means.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

WILHELM B. BRONANDER. 

